Time Signature
These are the ones...
Genre: melodic metalcore
Granted, metalcore is not the most popular metal genre amonger the older generations of metalheads. And, admitted, I do not always dig all metalcore – in fact, some of it, I just can't stand. Still, although I belong to a generation of etalheads that is, if not getting old, then at least getting mature, I do not reject metalcore per se, and this means that I do come across some metalcore acts that I like. I would say that the Hungarian band Insane belongs to this category.
What I like about them is that they are melodic without descending into the disgusting poppy expression that certain other melodic metalcore bands do. Insane retaine a hard rocking and heavy style throughout the album with the guitars and the riff at the center of musical expression. Insane have the same talent for combining the aggressive and the melodic as Killswitch Engage. In fact, they sound quite inspired by Killswitch Engage, but Insane are good at doing what they do, and a song like, for instance, 'Lighhouse' is, with its melodic and groovy riff, very catchy.
The album does not strike me as especially original (observing most of the conventions in the genre of melodic metalcore as pioneered by Killswitch Engage), but it is catchy and solid. Unlike many other releases within the genre, Concord the World is considerably varied which is definitely one of its attraction points.
Concord the World is catchy and melodic yet hard rocking and, for my money, a fine melodic metalcore release. Fans of Killswitch Engage will probably like it.
(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)